But the new-look Driffield side showed no signs of an inferiority complex as Collegiate won the toss and batted on their home Abbeydale wicket, and an early burst by Richard Pyrah and new recruit Mat Tupper had the College boys reeling at 18-3.

With Pyrah slipping out Collegiate skipper Matthew Root and spinner Nick Hardgrave accounting for Michael Simpson the home side were struggling at 50-5 and it took a gritty unbeaten 51 from Chris Colegate and some late order help from Jason Pitcher (29) to raise Collegiate to 166-8 from their 55 overs..

Pyrah finished with 3-60 and there were two wickets apiece for Nick Hardgrave and Mark Woodcock while Mat Tupper’s single wicket cost him only 15 from 10 overs.

Driffield’s reply started almost as badly as Sheffield’s innings when opener Dave Barber fell for his second duck in successive weeks and Robert Greaves took out the dangerous Pyrah for only 9.

But skipper Mark Tennant helped Joe Fraser steady the ship before he was run out for 20, and though Andy Burrell went cheaply, assistance for Fraser arrived in the form of young Will Norman batting at number six. A match-changing partnership of 76 was forged before Fraser was bowled for 61 (eight fours) but Jamie Kember 13 no helped Norman, unbeaten on 50, to get Driffield across the winning line even though there was only one ball to spare at the finish.

Seconds, who opened impressively at Scarborough last week, had neighbours Hornsea visiting, with a quick return to Kings Mill Road for former Woldsman quick, Alastair Kirk.

Kirk had a decent return, snapping up four wickets, but 62 from Chris Chapman and 43 from Andy Inns, plus 34 from opener Sam Drury took Driffield to an all out 199.

Hornsea got away to a good start through openers Jimmy Phillips (41) and Paul Clappison (79) who added 89 for the first wicket but a mid-order collapse saw three wickets fall at 147 and four in all for only four runs, so that when Alastair Kirk was the eighth man out at 178, Driffield looked to be on to pinch the victory.

Hornsea’s Danny Dales had other ideas however, and with help from Ben Atkinson, the ninth wicket pair took Hornsea through to a narrow victory.

Driffield 3rds announced their intentions in Division 5a of the York Senior League by amassing easily the highest total of the day with 265-4 in the splendid environs of Londesborough Park. Phil Woodcock was in prime touch with 102 but Dave Woodcock was very little behind, hitting 87. Jamie Hopper wrecked Park’s reply, his 4-11 helping shoot out the home side for a meagre 73.

Driffield 4ths were due to play Swanland in the East Riding Alliance but Swanland, unable to raise a side, conceded the match, while the 5ths, winners of Division Three last season, found life tougher in Division Two of the East Riding Independent League.